The Role of the Locus Coeruleus in Age-related Distractibility

Recruiting · NCT05574634 · Interventional (participants receive a specific treatment) · Lead sponsor: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

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Alzheimer's disease

Interventions studied

Tablet based adaptive criterion task practice programTablet based adaptive multimodal attention practice program

What this trial is about

A growing body of research has highlighted the importance of frontal regions, at both the functional and structural levels, in age-related declines in attentional and cognitive processing. However, the underlying neurobiological pathophysiological changes in the brain that contribute to these declines are still largely unclear. The objective of this proposal is to investigate neural mechanisms of age-related attentional distractibility, focusing on the neural circuit initiated from the locus coeruleus (LC). In the current proposal, the investigators will test the hypothesis that the neural disconnectivity of LC with the salience network (SN) drives failures of ignoring distractors in older adults. The investigators will examine how LC-SN connectivity is associated with selective attention performance, and how improved LC-SN connectivity through a cognitive training program may lead to improved attentional performance.

Who can take part

Age range

18 Years to 75 Years

Sex

All (male and female)

Healthy volunteers

Yes - healthy volunteers may be accepted

Phase

Not applicable (e.g. observational or device study)

Study type

Interventional (participants receive a specific treatment)

Eligibility criteria (as published)

Inclusion: * Healthy adult participants * No younger than 18 and no older than 75 yrs of age * Ability to provide written informed consent Exclusion: * History of surgery involving metal implants * Possible metal fragments in the eyes * Pacemaker * A history of claustrophobia * Braces * Weighing over 250 pounds * Pregnant or possibility of being pregnant. * Severe medical or psychiatric conditions (e.g., blind or deaf, head trauma) * Learning disabilities or developmental disabilities

Where it is running

1 location listed across 1 US state.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - Blacksburg, Virginia, United States

Read the full protocol, contacts and eligibility on ClinicalTrials.gov →